Artifacts of Thay [Archive] - Wizards Community

Artifacts of Thay [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Beaver
08-03-07, 08:19 PM Does anyone actually know what the Death Moon Orb and Thakorsil's Throne do, what their stats are? Also, what are some other artifacts Tam possesses?
The Simbul
08-03-07, 08:29 PM They actually are not Thayan artifacts. The death moon orb is Netherese, created by Larloch. Thakorsil's seat is from the ancient kingdom of Yhalvia, which is possibly of extraplanar (Abyssal?) origin.

They served as plot devices that made it possible for Szass Tam to use the epic spell/magic event known as the ritual of twin burnings, which he intended to use to bind Eltab permanently into his service.

Other artifacts potentially in the possession of the Zulkir of Necromancy are undocumented.
Beaver
08-03-07, 08:47 PM Well, I called them Thayan artifacts because they are in the possession of Thay now, I did know however, he was given both by Larloch (mostly because of a recent board discussion).

I imagine the actual stats for these items are unknown?
The Simbul
08-03-07, 09:03 PM You can find the AD&D statistics for these items in both the Villains Lorebook and Volo's Guide to All Things Magical, which are available as free PDF downloads from Wizards of the Coast. They originally appeared in the Spellbound boxed set, however that product is not available as a free download (though can you purchase downloads of Old Edition products from other sites).

In any case, all three sources yield virtually identical write ups for the items, and you could then easily extrapolate and convert 3E/3.5 statistics for them based on the descriptions of their 2nd edition counterparts, however they are not especially noteworthy items.

The first two aforementioned books in PDF file form can be downloaded here, though you really only need to download one if you are just looking for the artifact statistics.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads
GothicDan
08-03-07, 09:24 PM Larloch being capable of crafting artifacts when his stats give no indication of doing so shows a clear discrepancy in terms of stats, mind you. ;)
Beaver
08-03-07, 10:55 PM Well, it seems to me as Larloch is one of those mysterious debatable characters to which a DM gives his own stats too.
The Simbul
08-04-07, 01:01 AM Larloch being capable of crafting artifacts when his stats give no indication of doing so shows a clear discrepancy in terms of stats, mind you. ;)One of the many origins for artifacts, as briefly mentioned in the DMG definition/overview of them, is that they are often powerful magic items created by ancient mortal spellcasters, but for which the means of creating them have been lost or are no longer possible.

It could easily be the case that the death moon orb was created before the fall of Netheril, by means of spells that are no longer functional under Mystra's Ban. Alternatively it could have been created by using abilities gained from the Nether Scrolls.

As for Larloch's stat block, it may have more to do with the fact that his statistics were created several years before the rules for the Nether Scrolls made it into print. As such, they would not have managed to to include the latter into the former.
GothicDan
08-04-07, 01:06 AM Those are all possible explanations. One possibly interesting 'powerful list' of NPCs might be those who might be capable of crafting artifacts in the modern Realms, if any.
runestar
08-04-07, 10:39 AM It does not seem that difficult to replicate the death moon orb at least as some sort of wondrous item using existing item creation rules...:confused:
The Simbul
08-09-07, 12:28 AM Indeed, there is an overabundance of artifacts in Faerūn that would be far more suited (and would make much more sense) as unique magic items. By contrast, there are even a few standard magic items that really aught to be (minor) artifacts.
Beaver
08-09-07, 12:45 AM I know some of the Nether scrolls are in the lost empires book...but are there any others given stats for?
Zarreth_Nessad
08-16-07, 08:43 AM The Lost Empires of Faerun should describe all the "5 books" (each set of 10 scrolls, for a total of 50 scrolls) of the Nether Scrolls.
derekkohn
08-19-07, 11:15 PM yes, both of them are in the box set spellbound. a great set of adventures. i bought it yrs ago & finally played it. lost a few players. if your looking to get it Beaver i'll be more then happy to send it your way.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Beaver 08-03-07, 08:19 PM	Does anyone actually know what the Death Moon Orb and Thakorsil's Throne do, what their stats are? Also, what are some other artifacts Tam possesses?
The Simbul 08-03-07, 08:29 PM	They actually are not Thayan artifacts. The death moon orb is Netherese, created by Larloch. Thakorsil's seat is from the ancient kingdom of Yhalvia, which is possibly of extraplanar (Abyssal?) origin. They served as plot devices that made it possible for Szass Tam to use the epic spell/magic event known as the ritual of twin burnings, which he intended to use to bind Eltab permanently into his service. Other artifacts potentially in the possession of the Zulkir of Necromancy are undocumented.
Beaver 08-03-07, 08:47 PM	Well, I called them Thayan artifacts because they are in the possession of Thay now, I did know however, he was given both by Larloch (mostly because of a recent board discussion). I imagine the actual stats for these items are unknown?
The Simbul 08-03-07, 09:03 PM	You can find the AD&D statistics for these items in both the Villains Lorebook and Volo's Guide to All Things Magical, which are available as free PDF downloads from Wizards of the Coast. They originally appeared in the Spellbound boxed set, however that product is not available as a free download (though can you purchase downloads of Old Edition products from other sites). In any case, all three sources yield virtually identical write ups for the items, and you could then easily extrapolate and convert 3E/3.5 statistics for them based on the descriptions of their 2nd edition counterparts, however they are not especially noteworthy items. The first two aforementioned books in PDF file form can be downloaded here, though you really only need to download one if you are just looking for the artifact statistics. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads
GothicDan 08-03-07, 09:24 PM	Larloch being capable of crafting artifacts when his stats give no indication of doing so shows a clear discrepancy in terms of stats, mind you. ;)
Beaver 08-03-07, 10:55 PM	Well, it seems to me as Larloch is one of those mysterious debatable characters to which a DM gives his own stats too.
The Simbul 08-04-07, 01:01 AM	Larloch being capable of crafting artifacts when his stats give no indication of doing so shows a clear discrepancy in terms of stats, mind you. ;)One of the many origins for artifacts, as briefly mentioned in the DMG definition/overview of them, is that they are often powerful magic items created by ancient mortal spellcasters, but for which the means of creating them have been lost or are no longer possible. It could easily be the case that the death moon orb was created before the fall of Netheril, by means of spells that are no longer functional under Mystra's Ban. Alternatively it could have been created by using abilities gained from the Nether Scrolls. As for Larloch's stat block, it may have more to do with the fact that his statistics were created several years before the rules for the Nether Scrolls made it into print. As such, they would not have managed to to include the latter into the former.
GothicDan 08-04-07, 01:06 AM	Those are all possible explanations. One possibly interesting 'powerful list' of NPCs might be those who might be capable of crafting artifacts in the modern Realms, if any.
runestar 08-04-07, 10:39 AM	It does not seem that difficult to replicate the death moon orb at least as some sort of wondrous item using existing item creation rules...:confused:
The Simbul 08-09-07, 12:28 AM	Indeed, there is an overabundance of artifacts in Faerūn that would be far more suited (and would make much more sense) as unique magic items. By contrast, there are even a few standard magic items that really aught to be (minor) artifacts.
Beaver 08-09-07, 12:45 AM	I know some of the Nether scrolls are in the lost empires book...but are there any others given stats for?
Zarreth_Nessad 08-16-07, 08:43 AM	The Lost Empires of Faerun should describe all the "5 books" (each set of 10 scrolls, for a total of 50 scrolls) of the Nether Scrolls.
derekkohn 08-19-07, 11:15 PM	yes, both of them are in the box set spellbound. a great set of adventures. i bought it yrs ago & finally played it. lost a few players. if your looking to get it Beaver i'll be more then happy to send it your way.